PlayStation 3 hands-on preview (with video!)
By Ryan Block 
posted November 1st 2006 3:07PM
posted November 1st 2006 3:07PM
We got a brief shred of playtime back at E3 this year, but Sony was kind enough to invite us down to SCEA HQ in beautiful Foster City for a little one on one with some PlayStation3s and execs. We shot some video (yes, us) and have a some notes on the hardware after the break, so check it out!
P.S. -Our flash video isn't the highest quality / res. If you want the best looking video of the PS3, check out the VGA h.264 file below.
Download video
MOV (h.264) - VGA, QVGA
AVI (DivX) - VGA, QVGA
Music: Christopher Willits - Colors Shifting (Ghostly International)
If nothing else, it's certainly something to behold.
Unfortunately we didn't get a chance to video the slot loading drive in the PS3, but there isn't much to write about it. Anyone who's ever had a slot loading laptop knows the deal. It was a bit loud, but did the trick.
The port config, as we all well know by now.
That's a lot of logos.
The thing about the PS3, it's definitely optimized for heat. Without looking too much like the Mac cheesegrater, this thing is really set up for unconstricted airflow -- a far cry from its original, smoother design. During our play time, the unit remained relatively cool -- as cool, if not cooler than the Xbox 360.
The eject and power buttons aren't tactile, but they are touch sensitive.
Here we've got the CF, SD / miniSD, and Memory Stick slots, as well as the four USB ports, hard drive indicator, and wireless indicator.
We're not 100% sure, but we think this is where the hard drive's at. We understand it may be removable, more on that shortly.
P.S. -Our flash video isn't the highest quality / res. If you want the best looking video of the PS3, check out the VGA h.264 file below.
Download video
MOV (h.264) - VGA, QVGA
AVI (DivX) - VGA, QVGA
Music: Christopher Willits - Colors Shifting (Ghostly International)
Am I just crazy or does this guy sound like the guy from the GQ podcast. Adam Ravenport I think is his name. Take a listen.
Wow, look at all those features! I hear it can play games too...
Hi great vid and pics,
Canmyou confirm what the PC/network connectivity is like for the PS3?
As in, can I stream music (hopefully video) to it via a home network? like XMBC on a modded XBOX?
I dont think anyone has been able to answer ot posted infomation like that yet.
Thanks
The sticker on the bottom should say if it can handle both 120V and 220V or just 120V. Importers like me would be interested in knowing this.
OK... Now, did any of you (or your friends) falling on line now to get this thing?
omg It's way too shiny. I'm not buying one, I'm going to buy a Wii because it's not as shiny and it comes with more graphical cart colors. omg lol. all-so the xbock 360 has more white on it.
that thing is pretty!
Wonder how soon it'll be until Monster releases $50 PS3 wax to keep it so shiny.
@Josh
Im telling sony!
and ryan - screw ingame videos, theres enough videos of that on the web :P
Here is your to-do-list: :)
- Try pulling the harddrive out
- Show us the online store (Probably isnt online yet)
- Start a game
- Try the internet browser
- Try browsing the memory sticks (images, etc)
- Examine the "Install Package" button
And another thing,
Is the PS3 with chome the 60gig version or 20gig?
Chrome = 60
"I haven't paid much attention to this latest console wars business, but when you started talking about Cell, Core 2, and RAM, I just had to drop in. First, everything you said seems to be regurgitated Sony advertising speak. Second, you must not have a good understanding of computer architecture. The Cell is an amazing multimedia processor; it does a great job at simultaneous parallel floating point calculations, which most multimedia is. However, it is not an amazing general purpose processor like IA-32 (x86) is. Just because the Cell is really fast, has 8 secondary cores, and has fast RAM does not make it 8 times more powerful than Core 2. As ugly as x86 is, the Cell can't compete with x86. Cell was designed with massive floating point calculations all running in parallel, computing vectors, and processing all of that together. X86 was designed to run a general purpose operating system and run as many different pieces of software and hardware added to it.
Speed is irrelevant. The world's fastest super computer, IBM's BlueGene/L, has each CPU running at 700 MHz.
Aside from this one issue, you had a very informative post. Answering everyone else's questions provided useful information, especially to someone who no longer has time to play games anymore."
Okay, first of all, I'd like to thank you for not being a n00b and actually showing any respect when answering my post, as most people do when they see me supporting Sony. Now, onto business.
Yes, the Cell architecture is beaten by the x86 architecture in terms of general purpose computing, I'll give you that. But that's exactly it, these two CPUs are being used in totally difference applications.
Also, I did not say that the XDR DRAM makes the PlayStation 3 eight times faster than an Intel Core 2 [Duo]. I was just saying that it makes the system a lot faster since most computers are using RAM clocked at speeds of less than 1GHz, which negatively affects the PC's overall performance since the RAM is used to render what you are seeing in front of you, and in an application such as a video game, like driving simulation or a shooter, it is especially important.
That is pretty cool that each of the Blue Gene/L's CPUs is only clocked to 700MHz. I knew it was the fastest computer in the world, but not about the low speed of its individual CPUs. But this goes back to what the Cell microprocessor is all about. The Blue Gene computer achieves its high speeds by using synergistic power, and that's what the Cell is doing, by having seven active SPEs. That's why it's so much better than the Xbox 360's triple-core Xenon processor and obviously better than what the Wii will have.
The Cell is more powerful than what the 360 has, and whatever the Wii will have, but raw processing power is irrelevant if there's no good content. It's all about the games.
Side note: the Cell is derived from IBM's POWER architecture, as well is the 360's CPU's. The Cell and the 360's CPU share a common CPU generation.
This organ wonderful amazing staggering
thank you sony
saudi arabia
ok, let me get this right, this generation power is what makes a console great? size dosn't matter? big ugly black consoles are cool? wow, everything that was wrong with the orignal xbox, as sony fans would say. the ps3 embodies and now it's the superior machine? what a bunch of douchebags. nice video for what it shows. thanks. the xbox was big,black,more powerful than all the other consoles, had hd from day 1, ethernet, hard drive. so you could just put the xbox logo on the ps3 and it would fail, if sony fans believe the shit they spew.
The xbox's color sheme was way off - That dark green and the black did not match.
The new x360 has a very nice color sheme...and it matches this century colors!
I made an ogg version:
http://files.filefront.com/Engadget_PS3_Hands_On_Preview/;6124093;;/fileinfo.html
SO... when are the white, pink and MGS bundle camo versions coming out?
My TV only has a DVI input, would an HDMI to DVI cable be available or would i just have to shell a new TV with HDMI?
PS3 will have an optional Ps2/Ps1 memory card slot available for purchase somewere around next month, also the ps3 now as a fact is stronger and more capable then the xbox 360, also to mention the ps3 lauch lineup is the best lineup of games in history of gaming, it includes 6 exclusive ps3 titles like Resistance: Fall of man, Rigeracer 7, Untold Legends etc., it also now has most of the former Xbox 360 only titles like F.E.A.R and Oblivion: The Elder Scrolls VI now all thats left to wait for is for Gears of War to show up on PS3 and x box will be left with 1 game =) sad little Halo 3 (btw Halo is a trilogy so dont hope for Halo 4)
This is definetely a sure winners among the other contending gaming consoles! Awesome and shiny..
http://youhot.blogspot.com
http://palmnation.blogspot.com
I Want A Wii I Like The Way Its Shaped The PS3 Has A Good Shape And The Priceing Is Too Pricey The 20GB Is $499.99 The 60GB Is $599.99 And The Wii Only Costs $249.99 The Wii Has A Power Brick But I Don't Care If It Has A Power Brick The PS3 Needs Wireless Networking To The PSP The Wii Has Wireless Networking To The Nintendo DS.
"The Cell is more powerful than what the 360 has, and whatever the Wii will have, but raw processing power is irrelevant if there's no good content. It's all about the games.
Side note: the Cell is derived from IBM's POWER architecture, as well is the 360's CPU's. The Cell and the 360's CPU share a common CPU generation."
Yeah, and good games isn't a problem with the PlayStation 3, because it will have almost all the good exclusives for the seventh-generation. The Xbox 360 has Halo 3 and Dead or Alive Xtreme 2, and the Wii has nothing. The PlayStation 3 on the other hand already has Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots, which is pretty much the most highly anticipated video game for this generation. It's also got Final Fantasy XIII, Gran Turismo HD/5, et cetera. Plus, it will be the only seventh-generation console with a killer app at launch, Resistance: Fall of Man.
And I am aware of the prevalence of IBM's POWER architecture in this line of video game consoles. But the Cell is so much more powerful because its controller-core alone is a single PowerPC processor.
Hi, The ps3 or what I Like to call the Ex oriente lux (light from the east) It Is simply extraordinary how they can go from what the PS2 was and what we can only believe the PS3 to be. A milestone truly has been reached as an advance in the games console industry. The PS3 will be a HUGE hit the world over! Once was the PS2 & PS1. Anyone who doesnt respect this upcoming phenomenon, should live very lonely lives with nothing better to do than slag the PS3 OFF!! Stick with your Wii's and pc's etc! The ps3 has an in built processor so POWERFULL, most pc's can only stare on in amazement, plus the real play...oh the real play In the games (AWESOME), I must admit Im lost for words. The real truth is, US followers of this gaming console genius are proud of our predecessor, somewhat sent down from gaming console heaven. SO to all YOU PS3 lovers out there who are eagerly anticipating this "genius" of a machine as much as I am, I give you one motto: Nil satis nisi optimum ~ (Nothing but the best is good enough)
wow so close to launch...this saturday baby...cant wait..sucks the 60gb is gonna be $600 tho...think they are going a little over the edge on the pricing on this thing..either way im getting it tho..
I know this website that has all the Sony Playstation 3 games even before its released.
Its holidazeornaments.com
They have Resistance, NBA 07, Marvel Ultimate Alliance, Gundam, Call of Duty 3, Madden 07, NBA 2K7, Genji, Dark Kingdom, and Tiger Woods PGA Tour 07. They also have the SIXAXIS controller.
Look for Tickle Me Elmo TMX there also!
http://holidazeornaments.com
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Formula 1 PS Fans! Will 2006 F1 Championship Edition PS3 game play on my Playstation 2?